Mine car



Aug. 20, 1929. D, H, TURNER MINE CAR Filed May 13 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. zo, 1929.v D, H TURNER l 1,725,604

MINE GAR Filed May 13, 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 2 0, 1929. D. H. TURNER MINE CAR Filed May 13, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ug. 20, i929.

UNITED STATES DAVID H. TURNER, OF KITTANNING, PENNSYLVANIA.

MINE CAR.

Application i'iled May 13,

This invention relates to improvements in mine cars being directed more particularly and specifically to the draw bar, bumper and coupling link of a car of this character.

The constructions of mine cars now known to me and-on sale, have several serious objectionable features.

In the ordinary mine car construction, the coupling end of the draw bar is bent or extends upwardly to a position above the bottom and bumper of the car, with the result that this draw bar is eventually bent still further upward by repeated shocks or blows while in use. The bending upward of the draw bar not only weakens it, but also seriously damages the end gate of the car. As is well known, the end gate of the car is cut out so that it can swing over the draw bar and when the draw bar is bent upwardly, it fractures or breaks away the bottom of the end gate with the resultthat the ladin or contents of the car escape past the end gate. l

Additionally the bending of the draw bar weakens and permits the breakage of the coupling or draw bar pin. The minute that the draw bar is bent upwardly, the pin is bent and the bending of the pin eventually causes it to break.

It has been also found that with the coupling connections now known, the coupling links last but a short time as they extend beyond the bumper of the car and repeated blows upon the link when two cars are brought together, bends the link and eventually causes it to break.

The breaking of the connecting links and the pin is consequently a continuous item of expense in the upkeep of a car, and it will be readily apparent that the injury to the end gate of the car is very objectionable, not only from the standpoint of the destruction of the gate itself, but because the gate is so mutilated or injured as to permit the contents of the car to be scattered along the track, with the result of a continual lossage of coal.

As mentioned before, the common construction is to have the end of the draw bar elevated above the car bumper. With a construction of this nature, the draw bar forms an obstruction when the contents of the car is being discharged, and additionally the draw bar causes a breakage of the large umps of coal,

1927. Serial No. 191,126.

A mine car to be highly eflicient in operation and use should be so constructed that it will withstand tremendous jamming and heavy shocks.

With the above shortcomings of those mine cars now in use in mind, the present invention has been conceived.

Hence one of the objects of the invention is the provision of a mine car which is simple of construction but so constructed as to withstand amming and heavy shocks.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel draw bar construction.

A still further object is the provision of a novel draw bar construction, the end of which is completely encased within the bumper.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel construction of mine car wherein the connection between the two cars is readily and easily made, and the construction is such as to prevent the bending or breaking of either the draw bar, the connecting pin or the connecting link.

Other novel features of construction and improved results of the invention, as well as its eiiciency in operation, will be pointed out in the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings.

n the drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a mine car embodying the present invention, and illustrating the connection between the two cars.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ends of two cars embodying the present invention, showing the manner of making the connection between the cars.

Figure 3 is an end view of a mine car,

Figure a is an end view of the opposite end of a mine car, showing the connecting link carried by the bumper.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the bottom of a mine car embodying the present invention.

Figure 7 is a plan View of the improved coupling link.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the link appearing in Figure vOrdinarily the draw head of a mine car coupling extends outwardly beyond the end of the car bumper, but the present in,-

vention the draw head is completely encased within the bumper. h

It is also pointed out specifically 1n the following description wherein it will be seen that the only protrusion beyond the car `bumper is ay portion of the coupling link.

The present drawings are used for the purpose of illustration, though the exact construction appearing therein need not be followed.

By reference in detail to the drawings, 10 represents the body of a mine car, and 11 the car bottom. As is a common construction, the body is mounted upon suitable wheels 12.

The ends oi? the car bottom 11 are preferably rounded as at 13, and protected throughout the greater' portion of the width of the car bottom by a bumper 14.

The bumper 14 illustrated in the drawings, is what I have termed a welded plate bumper, as the end or tace 15 is welded to the top 1G and bottom 17 oit the bumper. By welding the bumper plates together, a better tit ot the car end can be obtained than is possible when a pressed steel bumper is used. The most common form of bumper is, however, the pressed steel form.

By reference to Figures 2, 5 and G of the drawings, it will be seen that the draw bar 18 extends throughout the length ot the car and is fastened to the bottom of the car by a plurality of pins or suitable bolts 19. Paralleling the draw bar 18 and inset in the bottom face ot the car bottom 11, is an auxiliar draw bar 2O which bar is also fastenedyin position by the bolts 19. Both the draw bar and the auxiliary draw bar are straight, flat bars of steel. The ends 21 and 22 ot these bars extend into and are completely encased` within the bumper 14s, but stop short of the tace plate 15 of the bumper.

The bottom 11 ot the car at its ends eX- tends into and is completely encased within the bumper, being cut away to form a chamber or housing 23 which receives the coupling links. The front plate of the bumper 15 is provided with an opening y24 to permit the entrance ot' the coupling link into the housing 23, which might be termed the draw head. To insure the easy and ready entrance ot the coupling link into the draw head of the housing, the lower iiace of thel opening 24 is rounded as at 25.

lThe bumper 14 is fastened to the car bottom at a plurality of points designated at 26, and the top plate 16 is flat with the exception of a slight upward bulge 27 immediately above the draw head link receiving opening or housing. This permits the end gate 28, which swings on suitable arms 29 which are pivoted at 30, to make a tight connection or joint with the car bottom as clearly appears in Figures 3 and i ot the drawing.

The coi'lpling link is designated by the numeral 31 and its construction clearly appears in Figures 7 and 8 ot the drawing. rlhis link is made with an oblong or elongated opening 32 at one end, while its opposite end is provided with a circular opening 33, the top edge ot which is tapered-as appears at 34. rlhe endv ot' the pin with the elongated opening is carried within the draw head or link receiving housing 23, and is held therein by reason of the link pin 34 which passes through the bumper and is locked in place by a cotter key 36, or its equivalent.

rilhe opposite end ot' the link is adapted to enter the draw head or link receiving housing of another car to effect a coupling, as clearly appears in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The end of the car into which this end ot the link enters, is similar in construction, with the exception of the fact that the link receiving housing is not quite as deep. To assure that link enters the bumper opening of another car when it is desired to make a connect-ion, the link end rounded at 37 while the bottom or end i'ace of the link is beveled as at 38. By reason of the rounded portion 37 and the beveled portion 38, all edges of the link are smooth and the construction is such that no matter from what angle the link is bumped by another car, it will readily drive the end of the link with the elongated opening back into the draw head and at the same time will enter the draw head or the link chamber oi the car to which a coupling is to be made. Should the round opening` 33 not be in a proper position to effect a coupling by dropping the connectiivy or draw pin 39 in place, the opening 33 can be readily pulled into proper position by a suitable tool such as illustrated in Figure 6 at 40, which tool will engage the notches il ot' the link whereby .it can be quickly pulled into alinement for compiling.

lt has been Atound by reason of the link constructien, that it will. always readily enter the recess in the bumper of the car to which the coupling is to be made. lt has been found that this entry will be properly and. automatically made no matter at what angle the cars meet or whether or not the cars are on a level piece ot' track.

Intermediate its length and between the two openings 32 and 33, the link has a narrow portion .ll-2 which permits a greater freedom of movement ot' the link on curves in the track when two cars are coupled together.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that by reason of the elongated link opening 32 and the length of the link re- CTI ceiving chamber or housing 23, that the link upon being bumped, can move back into the bumper suiciently far to protect 1t trom being bent or broken, but at the same time it protrudes sutliciently tar to permit and assure a quick and ready coupling with another car.

By reference to the drawings, )articularly igure 5, it will be seen that the major portion ot the connecting link .is carried within the steel bumper and positioned between the draw bar and the auxiliary bar,

and is thus protected against bending or breaking. For the purpose of adding life and dura-bility to the car, the housing 23 is provided at its top adjacent its rear end with a metal wear plate 43.

With a construction such as has been deiined, it will be seen that the protruding ends of the draw bar are completely encased within the bumpers which prevents them from being bent. It the draw bar cannot bent upward, no injury can result to the end gate of the car. Furthermore the strain upon the connecting pin is concentrated to a short portion ot its length, and thus overcomes any likelihood of its bending. Inasmuch as the draw bar cannot bend, and the connecting link is so constructed as to prevent it from bending, the connecting pin cannot bend.

Consequently the durability and life of the car is greatly added to as these parts are the ones which are subjected to the greatest strain and hard usage.

All oi the heavy shocks between the cars are taken care oi by the bumpers. Neither the draw bar nor the auxiliary draw bar are eliected or disturbed in their positions by reason oi" the jamming together of two cars. Inasmuch as the ends of the two bars are not in engagement with the face plate of the bumper, the shocks received by the bumper are not transmitted to these bars. With the construction described, there is provided two straight bars of steel which extend throughout the length of the cars, which tal-:e the entire pull of the load when a series of cars are connected together, without any danger of bending.

By reason ot the fact that the top ot the brmpe1 is flat, there is no obstruction to hinder the discharge of the contents of the car nor to cause the breakage of the lumps olf coal with which the car is laden.

In describing the invention, the description has been to the greater part concentrated upon that end of the car which carries the connecting link. It will be readily understood, however, and readily apparent from the drawings, that the opposite end ot the car is of a similar construction with the exception that this end receives the coupling link of another car and that as a consequence, the link receiving housing or chamber need not necessarily be so deep or lonol Iaving thus described my invention, what l desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

l. .ln combination with a railway vehicle having a body and a bottom therefor, a draw bar extending throughout the length of said bottom and positioned on the inner side thereof, an auxiliary draw bar extending throughout the length oi the car bottom and positioned on the underside of the bottom in spaced parallel relation with the draw bar, and bumpers at the ends of said car bottom completely encasing the ends of both the draw bar and the auxiliary draw bar, for the purpose described'.

2. In combination with a railway vehicle having a body and a bottom therefor, a draw bar and an auxiliary draw'bar extending throughout the length of the car bottom and positioned on the inner and outer sides respectively of said bottom, bumpers at the ends of said bottom completely encasing the ends oi said bars, the car bottom ends within the bumper provided with the link receiving opening between the ends of the bars, a link receiving opening in the front ot the bumpers, a link carried within the bumper at one end of the car and adapted for reciprocation therein, and, means attaching the link and the draw bars, for the purpose described.

3. In combination with a mine car having a body and a bottom therefor, a draw bar extending throughout the length of the car bottom and positioned above the inner side thereof, an auxiliary draw bar positioned beneath the outer side of the bottom and extending throughout the length thereof, said draw bars fastened to said bottom and to one another at a plurality of points throughout their length, bumpers at the opposite ends ot said bottom, said bumpers completely encasing the ends of the bars, the ends of thebars in separated relation with the fronts of the bumpers, an opening in the bumper front, a chamber within the bumpers, the chamber in one bumper adapted to receive a link, and means to make connection between the. link and the bars, and a link carried within the chamber of the bumper at the opposite car end, said link mounted for reciprocation in said chamber, and means connecting said link to said bars.

4. An improved construction for a mine car or the like having a body and a bottom therefor, comprising a pair of draw bars extending throughout the length of the bottom ot the car in separated parallel relation at opposite sides of the car bottom, bumpers tor the ends of the car bottom, said municating with link receiving chambers Within the bumpers, a link carried Within one bumper and mounted for reciprocation therein, a pin extending through the ends of the draw bars and forming a connection .between them and the link, and said link having a tapered rounded end extending beyond the bumper, for the purpose described.

5. In a car having a vHoor comprising boards extending longitudinally rom end to end of the car, buffers embracing the ends of a plurality of said boards, apair of draw bars extending the length of said car bottom at opposite sides thereof and having their ends encased Within said bufers, and draft means extending into said buffers between the ends of the dra-W bars and connected to said draw bar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my 20 signature.

D. H. TURNER. 

